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Russia Claims China Backing In Georgia Conflict

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  • Russia Claims China Backing In Georgia Conflict

    RUSSIA CLAIMS CHINA BACKING IN GEORGIA CONFLICT

    Agence France Presse
    Aug 28 2008

    DUSHANBE (AFP) -- China and four Central Asian nations signed a
    statement Thursday supporting Russia's role in the Caucasus but also
    expressing "deep concern" over the Georgia conflict and calling for
    a negotiated settlement.

    In a joint statement, the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan,
    Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan said they "support the active
    role of Russia in assisting peace and cooperation in the region."

    The six in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) also "express
    their deep concern over the recent tensions surrounding the South
    Ossetia question and call for the sides to peacefully resolve existing
    problems through dialogue."

    Echoing language used in the West over the conflict, a portion of
    the statement also said the summit members supported the principle of
    "territorial integrity" of states.

    Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the statement showed a "united
    position" on the Georgia conflict, and Kremlin officials indicated
    they were happy with its phrasing.

    China's foreign ministry reiterated, however, its concern over
    Russia's decision to recognise two breakaway Georgian provinces as
    independent states, and experts were split on how to interpret the
    Dushanbe statement.

    Unequivocal Chinese support would be a diplomatic coup for Russia,
    which has found itself largely isolated since its military move into
    Georgia on August 8.

    "It's not resounding support for Russia," commented Macha Lipman of
    the Carnegie Moscow Center, the Russian office of a US-based think
    tank. "Every country took into account their interests."

    Fyodor Lukyanov, a respected independent analyst who edits the magazine
    Russia in Global Policy, differed.

    "The SCO statement is a great victory by Russia, which has so far been
    in a vacuum" over Georgia. "They openly demonstrated their support
    for Russia in its standoff with Georgia."

    Russia sent forces into Georgia in response to Tbilisi's offensive to
    retake South Ossetia, and hundreds of troops remain in what Moscow
    is calling a "peacekeeping" mission but Georgia has denounced as an
    occupation force.

    Medvedev asserted that the summit had sent a clear message to the West,
    which has sharply criticised Moscow.

    "I hope it will serve as a serious signal to those who try to turn
    black into white and justify this aggression," he said.

    The SCO statement made no explicit mention of Russia's decision
    to recognise the rebel provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as
    independent states.

    Speaking before the statement was signed, Chinese foreign ministry
    spokesman Qin Gang told reporters in Beijing: "China expresses concern
    over the latest developments in the situation in South Ossetia and
    Abkhazia.

    "We are fully aware of the complicated history and reality of the
    issues of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and given our consistent position
    on such issues, we hope the relevant countries properly resolve the
    issues through dialogue and consultation."

    China, which is battling separatist claims on its own territory,
    called for "dialogue and consultation".

    The president of energy-rich Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev,
    sounded a note more in favor of Moscow.

    After the summit, Nazarbayev said he related "with understanding to
    all the measures taken by Russia" when he held a one-on-one meeting
    with Medvedev.

    "I would very much like international opinion to move toward peace
    and understanding, without constant announcements about the Cold War,"
    he said.

    Belarus, which is closely tied to Moscow, said Russia "had no moral"
    choice but to recognise the independence of the two Georgian regions.

    Russian news agencies later quoted the Belarussian ambassador to Moscow
    as saying Belarus may "soon" recognise the two Georgian provinces.

    A statement from the Belarus presidency called for another
    Moscow-dominated regional grouping, the Collective Security Treaty
    Organization (CSTO), to make a joint statement on the conflict at
    its meeting on September 5.

    The CSTO comprises Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
    Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

    In the face of Western criticism, the Kremlin has angrily argued
    that Russia used military force only in response to a Georgian
    attack against South Ossetia, where tens of thousands of Russian
    citizens live.
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